Trans-Nordic Literature Conversation: Balsam Karam, Lasse Raagaard and Mette Moestrup

What questions arise, what language arises and what paths emerge when a Swedish and a Danish writer explore grief, love and trauma together? Is it possible to write our way out of loss -- and can literature make room for what we cannot explain?

Throughout the years, many writers have written about loss and grief. Some of the recent shots on the strain are Swedish author Balsam Karam's 'The Singularity' and Danish Lasse Raagaard's 'Slip'.

Now they meet in a conversation about some of the artistic and thematic connections between their works — death touching, grief work, necessary breaks with realism, the aesthetics of trauma and especially the work's confrontation with time and space.

There will be plenty of time to hear the authors read aloud from the works, and after the conversation, questions from the room are open. The conversation will take place in Danish and Swedish and will be moderated by poet, writer and member of the Danish Academy Mette Moestrup.

MødBalsam Karam, b. 1983, has just been published in Danish with the novel 'Singularitet' (translated by Dina Bodé, Forlaget Korridor). It is a tale that has garnered much praise and is referred to as an “overwhelming treasure trove of grief and class hatred” (Information). Her three novels' Hänningshorizonten ', 'Singularitet and 'Mörk mater' together form a space trilogy in which astrophysics meets existential themes.Lasse Raagaard, b. 1994 debuted with the poetry collection 'ssn snnart' and in 2026 has published the novel 'Slip'. The novel explores life and death through the experiences of a young man at the Centre for Occupational Brain Injury and ranks, via time shop, all the way back to the Stone Age — and creates space for a spiritual dimension that we hardly typically associate with the Danish hospital service.Mette Moestrup, b. 1969, debuted as a writer with the poetry collection 'Tattoos' in 1998. Since then there are several critically acclaimed collections of yours, most recently 'Butterfly Nebula'. The book has been nominated for the Nordic Council's Literature Prize 2026.About Tvernordic Literature ConversationIn 2025, the Danish Academy, in cooperation with the Main Library, launched the Tvernordic Literature Conversation event. Here some of the most interesting and pioneering Nordic authors of the time meet for a conversation about their writings. Trans-Nordic Literature Conversation is a public event with free admission upon registration.

Practical InfoThe event takes place at LIVE at Copenhagen's Main Library, 4th floor, Store Scene.The event has free admission with ticket. Please note that the view of the stage is restricted from certain locations.Find wayFrom the Central Hall of the Main Library you will find the stage area on the 4th floor in the following ways:

Take the elevator that you find on your right hand when you step from Krystalgade into Centralsalen. The stage is on the right when you step out of the elevator. Take the stairs that you will find on your right hand when you step from Krystalgade into Centralsalen. Follow the stairs up to fourth. The stage is on the right as you step out onto the floor.Follow the escalators up to the 3rd floor. At the end of the last escalator, a staircase goes on your right side up to the 4th floor. Go right to get to the stage area.